For the fourth year, we shine a light on local food, farms and our entire Monadnock Region local food system during New Hampshire Eat Local Month. Our food system includes all the pieces needed to bring local food from the farm to your plate: the soil, farm labor, transportation and more to grow, harvest and distribute these goods to markets and directly to you. These pieces come together to form our local food system.

Stronger local food systems build healthier citizens, communities and local economies. Who is cultivating a stronger “Eat Local” movement in the Monadnock Region? Feast on these featured initiatives:

Growing Young Farmers

The Cornucopia Project and Farmer John’s Plot in Dublin recently launched a “Farm to Fork Fellowship” at ConVal High School in Peterborough. It’s an entrepreneurial program that teaches students how to grow produce throughout the year, run a CSA farm and then turn their harvest into value-added products like sauces, jams and dried spices.

Starting with four sophomores, students will participate in a sustainable agriculture course and use the Monadnock Art X Tech Makerspace as a “laboratory for innovation” to modify farm equipment and carry out hands-on projects. Once these students become juniors, they will return to the program to help train the next group of sophomores.

“We are empowering youth to do real work and gain life skills as valuable partners in our local food systems,” said Hannah Bissex, Farm to Fork Coordinator. “We’re giving young people the opportunity to gain unique entrepreneurial and agricultural skills by co-creating an economically viable business model that gives back to the community.”

Ownership Matters

Farmers Lincoln Geiger and Anthony Graham now own the land where Temple Wilton Community Farm in Wilton sits -- the oldest CSA farm in the country. Woo-hoo! This purchase happened thanks to over 340 individuals who donated or loaned $108,000 and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, New Hampshire Community Loan Fund and other organizations that contributed $508,000 in grants and loans.

“From this place, farmers will be able to bring forth food for many, many generations of people to come,” shared Lincoln Geiger. “It will be land that belongs to those who farm it, those who come to get their food, those who come to walk or visit and for the creatures wild and tame that share it with us.”

Finding Affordable Land for More Farmers

Access to affordable land is a major struggle for many beginning farmers. The Monadnock Conservancy recently produced the report “Farming on Conserved Land: Stories from Land Owners and Farmers” exploring the use of conserved land as farmland. Currently, the Monadnock Conservancy holds 45 easements on land with agricultural potential, but less than a quarter is farmed.

The report found that landowners of conserved land want their land farmed and where farming is already happening, owners want to increase their acres in production. However, landowners face obstacles like their inexperience with the realities of farming (the smells, sights and sounds) and the lack of technical expertise to draw up farm leases that balance the farmer’s business sustainability and the landowner’s desire not to “tie up the land.” Future efforts to overcome these obstacles may include training and technical assistance to draft leases and a local land-linking program to connect more farmers and potential farmers with interested landowners.

The report, done in collaboration with the Cheshire County Conservation District, Land For Good and the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, includes case studies of three successful farming arrangements on Monadnock Conservancy conserved land.

Supporting Beginner Farmers

Small and Beginner Farmers of New Hampshire is a statewide network of farmers supporting new farmers. In addition to training events, they offer beginning farmers access to shared equipment.

“Our mobile processing unit for poultry processing continues to be popular, and with the new law farmers can now sell poultry slaughtered on farm to restaurants,” shared Kate Kerman of Phoenix Farm in Marlborough. “Our newest addition is a barrel washer for root vegetables.”

More Local Food for All

The Community Kitchen of Keene, through its Gleaning Project, is increasing access to local food for families on very limited incomes. Gleaners harvest the surplus produce from farms, gardens and the Farmers Market of Keene and distribute it those who need it most through their Pantry Program. Since beginning in 2013, the project has provided over 100,000 pounds of produce to the Community Kitchen.

“Offering freshly harvested, locally grown fruits and vegetables can make all the difference to families going through the Pantry,” said Phoebe Bray, Executive Director of the Community Kitchen. “It’s very encouraging to see clients take home bags full of lettuce, kale, cucumbers, summer squash and hear them discuss what they will make with the produce.”

Gleaning volunteers needed! Learn more and sign up to help at nhgleans.org.

From Field to Market

Stores like the Hannah Grimes Marketplace in Keene, at the forefront of the “Buy Local” scene since 1997, and the Monadnock Food Co-op, a community-owned grocery store, are making strides in bringing more local food to you. For example, the Monadnock Food Co-op sold close to $3 million worth of food produced within 110 miles of Keene this year.

In order to help farmers meet the demand for their goods, the Co-op is working with the Cheshire County Conservation District to establish a Farm Fund, providing farmers with grants to help them produce more local food.

“I truly believe it is possible for our communities to sustain themselves in a healthy way if we invest in leveling the playing field for small businesses and build the infrastructure to allow more people to both grow more food and access food that is good for them,” shared Emerald Levick, Monadnock Food Co-op’s Marketing Manager. “I am so proud to now be working for Monadnock Food Co-op, which exists in order to further both of these goals.”

Of course, there are many, many more people, programs and policies to highlight --but space is short. Please read past local food system highlights at monadnocklocal.org/nheatlocal.

Thank you for celebrating our harvest this August and supporting our local food system throughout the year.

“The reception for Plaid Friday [at Toadstool Bookshop in Peterborough] was fantastic. I am guessing about two-third of the people who came in were wearing plaid -- and many of those who weren't were aware of it. Every year it seems to more and more people think about shopping locally -- which is what it's all about.”

~ Willard Williams, co-owner of The Toadstool Bookshops.

Your sponsorship of our 2016 Shift Your Shopping Season will raise awareness of the importance of supporting locally owned businesses in our region, inspire more of us to shift our holiday spending to independent businesses and show our region your dedication to the local economy movement.

Please consider sponsoring this year’s Shift Your Shopping Promotion at one of the four levels below:

Your logo and business name will appear on our Plaid Friday webpage (viewed 700 times last year)

Tier 3: $500 (3 sponsorship slots available)

Your business will be mentioned during one week of our Plaid Friday radio ads (2 sponsors highlighted in each ad)

Your logo will appear on our Plaid Friday Main Street Banner in Keene

Your logo and business name will appear on our Plaid Friday webpage (viewed 700 times last year)

Tier 4: $1,000 (7 sponsorship slots available)

Your business will be a sponsor for our Shift Your Shopping Launch Party in early November and a founding member of our Placemaker Loyalty Program

Your logo will appear on our Plaid Friday Main Street Banner in Keene

Your logo and business name will appear on our Plaid Friday webpage (viewed 700 times last year)

+++ Plus, at any tier you can add a Cider Monday event booster: $50 +++

We’ll place digital ads reminding people to Shift Their Shopping leading up to Cyber/Cider Monday

Your logo and business name will appear on our Cider Monday digital ad landing page

Ad space is limited, so please pledge your sponsorship soon. All sponsorship pledges are due before September 15th. Please contact us if you have any questions and thank you for all you do to support our local economy each and every day! SaveSaveSaveSaveSave

August is New Hampshire Eat Local Month! And this year, we’re proud to share that seventy businesses and organizations throughout the state are coming together to highlight this month-long celebration of local food and New Hampshire farmers and producers. Monadnock Buy Local is thrilled to be part of this local economy-boosting event.

The “Eat Local” and the “Buy Local” movements are two peas in the same pod. Both play a critical part in promoting the positive impacts of farms and other locally owned businesses on our community and local economy. In fact, farmers and local food producers tend to buy even more of the products and services they need from other locally owned businesses (compared to traditional independent retail business owners), resulting in an even higher amount of money recirculating in our local economy -- growing more community health and wealth.

So, what’s the best way to celebrate New Hampshire Eat Local Month? Eat more locally grown food all month long! Visit farms, farmers’ markets, farm stands and your favorite local grocers offering a bounty of New Hampshire grown products from apples to zucchinis (and all the fruits, veggies, dairy, meats, honey and maple in between). You can also enjoy all the special events and promotions happening throughout the state. Find lots more inspiration at nheatlocal.org.

Two Monadnock Buy Local members are really stepping up to celebrate NH Eat Local Month this year. The Hannah Grimes Marketplace in Keene is offering 10% off all local meat in August and the Farmers’ Market of Keene removed the $10 cap for their Granite State Market Match program. Farmers’ Market customers paying with EBT, or SNAP, can double all their dollars for the entire month of August.

Here’s our most updated list of local food and farm events happening in the Monadnock Region to celebrate New Hampshire Eat Local Month:

On August 13, enjoy the Farm & Family Fest hosted by the Cornucopia Project at Four Winds in Peterborough with live music, dancing, farm animals, games, raffles and local food at 2 – 6 p.m. The cost is $12 per person and children under 5 are free. Register atcornucopiaproject.org.

Thursday nights in August are Free Movie Nights at the Barn at the Walpole Valley Farms in Walpole. Walpole Valley Farms will sell their grass-fed burgers and hot dogs, along with fresh popped popcorn and drinks. Food and games start at 5 p.m. and the movie begins at 7 p.m. Discover the movie of the night atwalpolevalleyfarms.com/movie-nights-at-the-barn.

We’re so excited for NH Permaculture Day at the Orchard Hill Community in East Alstead on August 20, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The day includes more than 30 hands-on workshops and demos, farm-to-table lunch and community art installation. Come learn more about permaculture -- an approach thatuses ecological principles to design and regenerate healthy, productive landscapes and communities. Tickets are $35 per person:nhpermacultureday.org.

On August 21, an annual Farm to Table Dinner for the Monadnock Farm & Community Coalition happens at Mayfair Farm in Harrisville, 6 – 9 p.m. The menu includes locally sourced, sustainably grown and ethically harvested cuisine -- that will be incredibly delicious, too! Blackjack Crossing will also perform. Tickets are $75 per plate and are available atmfccoalition.org.

The Small and Beginner Farmers of NH invite you to Phoenix Farm in Marlborough for a Local Food BBQ featuring pork, lamb and poultry on August 27. The fun starts at 3 p.m. Learn more at beginnerfarmers.org.

While we’re talking BBQs, Alyson's Orchard in Walpole will host its 4th Annual Amateur BBQ Pulled Pork Competition & Festival on August 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event also includes apple picking, wagon rides, ice cream and more. Admission is by donation: alysonsorchard.com/upcoming-events.

To wrap up New Hampshire Eat Local month, be sure to attend the Acworth Locavore Festival behind the Acworth Village Store on August 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will showcase local food and beverage producers and local farm-to-table restaurants in our region. Stay tuned for more details atfacebook.com/acworthvillagestore.

We’ll be sure to add more events as we discover them, so please visit our site often to stay up to date on all the happenings in our region: monadnocklocal.org/NHEatLocal.

We hope to see you out and about (and eating local) during New Hampshire Eat Local Month. Enjoy the harvest!

In its seventh year, Monadnock Buy Local experienced a 13% membership increase. This movement now includes 185 businesses, representing 25 towns and well over 1,000 jobs throughout the Monadnock Region. We're thrilled that membership continues to climb.

Monday marks the start of New Hampshire Eat Local Month -- a month-long celebration of local food and farms, and a time to recognize how a stronger local food system builds healthier citizens, communities and local economies.

There are so many ways to celebrate: Visit nearby farmers markets, farm stands and pick-your-own farms and find out what’s in season; attend an event to meet the farmers, growers and chefs behind your food or learn new skills that keep you eating locally all year long; volunteer with a local gleaning group and help harvest excess vegetables that will go to people who need healthy, fresh food; start a fall garden full of winter crops like carrots, kale and cabbage; choose locally grown options when you shop at your favorite grocery stores, or eat out at a local restaurant -- and the list continues at New Hampshire Eat Local’s website.

National Farmers Market Week -- also during New Hampshire Eat Local Month -- is August 7-13. It’s a time to focus on why we love our farmers markets and acknowledge their role in building community, preserving farmland, stimulating local economies, increasing access to fresh nutritious food and promoting sustainability.

“Farmers markets play a vital role in forming healthy, local food systems,” says Jen Cheek, Executive Director of the Farmers Market Coalition. “By providing the opportunity for farmers to connect directly with consumers, markets serve as education centers. Vendors are teaching customers about agriculture, sharing recipes, and exposing them to new foods. Markets are making people and communities stronger and healthier.”

Here are some of the local food and farm events happening in the Monadnock Region during New Hampshire Eat Local Month.

The Cornucopia Project kicks off the month with their Food for Thought Film Series on August 2 at the Peterborough Community Theatre, 6 – 8 p.m. The film is Growing Local and tells the story of three small farms in Maine and the growing pains of the local food movement.

Thursday nights in August are free Movie Nights at the Barn at the Walpole Valley Farms in Walpole. Walpole Valley Farms will sell their grass-fed burgers and hot dogs, along with fresh popped popcorn and drinks. Food and games start at 5 p.m. and the movie begins at 7 p.m. Discover the movie of the night and more at walpolevalleyfarms.com/movie-nights-at-the-barn.

On August 13, enjoy the Farm & Family Fest hosted by the Cornucopia Project at Four Winds in Peterborough with live music, dancing, farm animals, games, raffle and local food at 2 – 6 p.m. The cost is $12 per person and children under 5 are free.

We’re so excited for NH Permaculture Day at the Orchard Hill Community in East Alstead on August 20, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The day includes more than 30 hands-on workshops and demos, farm-to-table lunch, community art installation and more. Come learn more about permaculture -- an approach that uses ecological principles to design and regenerate healthy, productive landscapes and communities.

On August 21, an annual Farm to Table Dinner for the Monadnock Farm & Community Coalition happens at Mayfair Farm in Harrisville, 6 – 9 p.m. The menu includes locally sourced, sustainably grown and ethically harvested cuisine -- that will be incredibly delicious, too! Blackjack Crossing will also perform. Tickets are $75 per plate.

To wrap up New Hampshire Eat Local month, be sure to attend the Acworth Locavore Festival behind the Acworth Village Store on August 28, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The event will showcase local food and beverage producers and local farm to table restaurants in our region. Stay tuned for more details.

We’ll add more events as we discover them, so please visit our site often to stay up to date on all the happenings in our region.

The City of Keene and towns of Chesterfield, Hinsdale, Swanzey and Winchester in Southwest New Hampshire were selected to become a part of a demonstration site for a new, locally focused crowdfunding platform, developed by an organization called The Local Crowd (TLC). The Monadnock Region is one of six communities recently chosen to demonstrate the crowdfunding platform's effectiveness as an economic development tool. TLC demonstration sites are part of a research project funded by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Finding access to capital can be challenging for small business owners. According to the National Small Business Association, 27 percent of small businesses were unable to access adequate capital in 2015. Crowdfunding, or raising funds to support a project or business from a large number of people, is a viable alternative for entrepreneurs to fund the growth of their businesses -- and with their growth comes wealthier and healthier communities.

Current local demonstration site partners include Monadnock Buy Local, Southwest Region Planning Commission, Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship, Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Monadnock Economic Development Corporation and New Hampshire Small Business Development Center. The Southwest Region Planning Commission will serve as the crowdfunding platform host. Partners hope to bring on additional organizations to help support this project. Interested potential partners can contact Monadnock Buy Local for more information at monadnockbuylocal@gmail.com or 603-499-7950.

TLC, a Laramie, Wyoming-based company, received a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from USDA last fall to establish up to thirty demonstration sites. The Local Crowd's platform features educational programs designed to help rural communities activate entrepreneurial ecosystems and spur local investment.

"We see the TLC crowdfunding tool as the perfect opportunity for us to launch a pollinator enterprise in our region -- one that will forward community economic development using a self-financing business model," said Jen Risley, Monadnock Buy Local Executive Director. "This project is exactly the kind of work we hoped to inspire with our pollinator enterprise events with Michael H. Shuman this spring."

In addition to the Monadnock Region, the communities of Golden Hills, Iowa; Goshen, Indiana; Oregon, Illinois; Sauk Valley Region, Illinois and Spoon River, Illinois were also selected as demonstration sites. They will join the communities of Bozeman, Montana; Laramie, Wyoming; and Teton Valley, Idaho that are getting ready to launch their platforms at the end of summer.

"We are pleased to have such a strong group of dedicated and visionary communities coming in as our second group of Demonstration Sites," said Diane Wolverton, Co-Founder and CEO of The Local Crowd. "During the review process, each community team submitted a vision statement about how being a demonstration site would impact their community. These vision statements capsulized their commitment to stimulate 'deep collaboration, innovation, local investing, job creation, ecotourism, youth engagement and connectivity between businesses and the community.' We are looking forward to great results from this dynamic and extremely creative team!"

Each demonstration site team will complete an eight-week online training program to introduce them to the crowdfunding software and support successful implementation of the platform. The target date for launch within each of the communities is late fall 2016.

The Local Crowd is currently seeking applicants for a third round of demonstration site communities. A downloadable copy of the Request for Proposals is available at thelocalcrowd.com.

On Friday, July 15, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. EDT a free 30-minute informational webinar will be held for those interested in learning more. Register at bit.ly/1TZtWuN. Deadline for proposal submission is August 29, 2016.

About The Local Crowd
The Local Crowd (thelocalcrowd.com) combines crowdfunding technology with the spirit of community and the power of local investing to catalyze communities that invest in themselves.

While Independence Day is a time to celebrate our freedom, Independents Week is a time to reflect on our connectedness. Monadnock Buy Local and other local business alliances throughout the nation are celebrating the positive connections between locally owned and independent businesses, the health and wealth of our communities and you.

Independents Week is a time to reflect on your ability to think and act independently and embrace your part in shaping the future of the Monadnock Region. “Changing the way our economy operates starts with a single person,” states Michelle Long from the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies. “It starts with you.”

Please take some time next week to acknowledge the independent business owners you know. Thank them for their spirit of entrepreneurism, individuality and character; the way they give back to our community with their time, talent, goods and services; and how their offerings fulfill your needs.

Take the Indie Challenge

Another way to celebrate Independents Week is to take the “Indie Challenge.” Try making all of your purchases at locally owned businesses from July 1st to July 7th. Sign on to the Indie Challenge today at monadnocklocal.org/indieweek. Keep us posted on how it’s going. Please email us at monadnockbuylocal@gmail.com.

If you get stumped, use our 3,296 Facebook Fans (and your friends and neighbors) to help you brainstorm possibilities at facebook.com/monadnockbuylocal.

Another great resource for finding what you need is our online directory, listing 352 locally owned businesses in the Monadnock Region. You can search by business type, town or keywords to find what you’re looking for at monadnocklocal.org/Directory.

Traveling during Independents Week? Enjoy what locally owned businesses have to offer wherever you’re at. Ask locals where their favorites are and look for networks like Monadnock Buy Local in the areas you’re visiting at amiba.net/about_ibas/find-iba.

Hannah Grimes Marketplace in Keene is celebrating Independents Week by offering their customers double rewards for purchases made July 1st – 7th. They’re also raffling off a Tim Campbell print of New Hampshire: hannahgrimesmarketplace.com.

Another fun way to celebrate Independents Week is to participate in local events sponsored by our locally owned businesses and community organizations. Here’s a sample of the many great activities happening around the Monadnock Region during Independents Week -- get out there and celebrate our Independents!

Start off your week at the Fitzwilliam Inn. On July 1st, “The Town Meeting,” an indie folk band, will perform. Cover is $7. Please make your reservation early! fitzwilliaminn.com.

On July 2nd from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Farmers’ Market of Keene on Gilbo Avenue hosts singer-songwriter Tad Dreis. Enjoy the music while shopping for vegetables, fruits, dairy products, meat, eggs, preserves, wines, maple and other locally made products: farmersmarketofkeene.com.

The Keene Swamp Bats offer fireworks at their game against the Valley Blue Sox at the Alumni Field in Keene on July 3rd. The game starts at 6:30 p.m. and the fireworks show follows: swampbats.com.

The Monadnock Center for History and Culture in Peterborough hosts an Independence Day Ceremony starting at 10 a.m. on the 4th of July. The event features a reading of the Declaration of Independence: monadnockcenter.org

Orchard Hill Breadworks Pizza Night is in Alstead on July 5, 5 – 7:30 p.m. (and Tuesday evenings all summer long!). You bring your own pizza toppings, drinks, picnic blanket, dinnerware and $8 per crust. Orchard Hill Breadworks provides the pizza crusts, cheese and sauce and will cook your pizza in their outdoor oven. All profits for Pizza Night support local nonprofits, with July 5th going to WOOL-FM Radio. Call 603-835-7845 for more information or visit Orchard Hill Breadworks on Facebook.

It’s Jaffrey Community Farmers Market’s Opening Day on July 6th, 5:30 – 8 p.m. Come for the locally grown and made delights and stay for the live music with “The Installers” starting at 7 p.m. at the Gazebo in Downtown Jaffrey: teamjaffrey.org.

End Independents Week at the Walpole Valley Farms’ Free Family Movie Night at The Barn. The July 7th movie is " My Neighbor Totoro.” Food will be for sale 5 – 7 p.m., including the farm’s delectable grass-fed burgers. Games at 5 p.m. and the movie starts at 7 p.m. Bring chairs, blankets and pillows. Held rain or shine: walpolevalleyfarms.com.

“Independents Week is a time to reflect on the importance of economic democracy and community self-determination by celebrating the nation’s locally owned independent businesses and the stake each citizen has in shaping their hometown’s future,” said Jennifer Rockne, from the American Independent Business Alliance.

Looking for a fresh, healthy breakfast, lunch or dinner option? Look no further than The Works Bakery Café on 120 Main Street in Keene. The Works recently expanded its menu and its hours. It’s now open daily for dinner until 8:00 p.m.

Stop in and check out The Works’ bold new menu including an array of organic and gluten-free options, gourmet salads and veggie-based smoothies. These new items complement their original large selection of delicious sandwiches, traditional bagels, local cage-free eggs and soups.

“We’re thrilled to offer this expanded menu to our community -- one that offers many more healthy, fresh choices than before,” said Richard French, President of The Works Bakery Café. “We called in professional chefs to help us develop our new quinoa bowls and salads. They’re packed with protein and are just delicious.”

Find a favorite at The Works, like their new Sesame Ginger Chicken Quinoa Bowl, a gluten-free blend of four organic ancient grains topped with antibiotic-free roast chicken, broccoli, Napa cabbage and a touch of pineapple mango salsa. Or choose the Indian Summer Quiona Bowl, a vegetarian option with roasted sweet potatoes, garbanzo beans, baby spinach and almonds. There are four other quinoa bowls to choose from -- so try them all. Looking for even more greens? Try a Kale Chicken Caesar with baby kale, Parmesan cheese and house-made sourdough croutons.

“Our super-nutritious quinoa bowls and large new salads are perfect for lunch or dinner,” shared Richard. “Also, our entire breakfast, soup and sandwich menu is available until 8:00 p.m. to eat at The Works or as take out. We invite our community to stop in after work, or bring the whole family here for dinner.”

Beat the heat throughout the day with one of The Works’ new smoothies like Kale Krush and Strawberry Beet that include fresh ingredients such as baby kale, carrots, beets, strawberries, avocado, honey and wheat germ. Enjoy your smoothie in The Works’ expanded outdoor patio space.

In addition to its new menu and hours, The Works also transformed its interior space to include bamboo flooring, reclaimed booths, energy star rated kitchen equipment and LED light fixtures.

“We picked Keene as the first location to roll out these changes,” said Richard. “We started here because it’s where The Works is based and where my family lives.”

Richard French has a long history of food innovation. He launched Bagel Works in Manchester, VT in 1988. That venture connected his passion for fresh, healthy and thoughtfully sourced foods with his commitment to social and environmental responsibility -- and he’s never looked back.

In 2010, Richard took The Works “clean” by sourcing chicken, ham, bacon, and turkey raised without antibiotics and hormones, fed a vegetarian diet, and only from farms with humanely-raised certifications.

This complemented his initial commitment to source ingredients as close to home as possible: hormone-free cream cheese from McGarry Dairy in Enosburg Falls, VT, free-range eggs from Nelly’s Free Range in Monroe, NH and organic yogurt from Stonyfield Farm in Londonderry, NH, smoked salmon from Spence & Company in Brockton, MA and local vegetables when available.

An old favorite from the first café, traditional New York-style boiled and baked bagels -- made with unbleached and unbromated flour -- can still be found at The Works, topped with any number of hormone-free cream cheeses. All of The Works flavored cream cheeses are hand-whipped in house and blended with only fresh fruits and vegetables.

Richard’s commitment to sustainability and the environment doesn’t end with food. There’s a mission behind the menu. All eight locations recycle and compost. New cafes and renovations rely heavily on repurposed, up-cycled, and green products -- many made by local craftspeople -- and energy efficient equipment.

Let Richard know what you think about The “New” Works. Stop in this week and gain a new favorite!

"Independents Week is a time to reflect on the importance of economic democracy and community self-determination by celebrating the nation's locally owned independent businesses and the stake each citizen has in shaping their home town's future," stated AMIBA director Jennifer Rockne.

Events & Specials:

Here’s what’s happening around the Monadnock Region during Independents Week — get out there and celebrate our Independents!

Monadnock Buy Local is joining other local alliances and partner organizations nationwide -- thousands of independent business owners and citizens who are participating in Independents Week -- to celebrate our great independent businesses who exemplify the uniqueness of the Monadnock Region.

We have a reason to celebrate -- these friends and neighbors embody the spirit of entrepreneurship and individuality in our community. Our citizens are integral to ensuring we keep these businesses, as they help define who we are and contribute to our sense of place.

City of Keene Mayor Kendall Lane will deliver his Independents Week proclamation at the City Council Meeting on June 16, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. in Keene City Hall's Council Chambers.

As a part of Independents Week, Monadnock Region citizens are pledging to take the Indie Challenge and fulfill all of their needs at locally owned, independent businesses for one week.

Monadnock Buy Local is a proud member of the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) -- a grassroots network of communities rallying their support for independent businesses to ensure the opportunity to operate an independent business endures.

With spring in the air, the Monadnock Alliance for Sustainable Transportation (MAST) and the League of American Bicyclists, a national organization of bicyclists, announce that May 20, 2016 is Bike to Work Day.

Why Bike to Work?

Forty percent of all trips in the U.S. are less than two miles, making bicycling a feasible and fun way to get to work. With increased interest in healthy, sustainable and economic transportation options, it’s not surprising that, from 2000 to 2013, the number of bicycle commuters in the U.S. grew by more than 62 percent. More bicycle commuting data is available at www.bikeleague.org/commutingdata/.

2016 Bike to Work Day Schedule of Events*

MAST invites bicyclists to stop by Railroad Square in Keene between 6:00 am and Noon on Bike to Work Day to take advantage of free coffee, snacks, giveaways.

9:00 - 9:45 am:Complete Streets information session at the Hannah Grimes Center, located at 25 Roxbury Street in Keene. Find out why 30 states, including all New England states except New Hampshire, as well as more than 600 counties and municipalities have adopted Complete Streets policies to help improve the quality of life for their citizens, from healthier kids to more independent seniors.

10:00 am:Mayor's proclamation about Bike to Work Day.

10:15 - 11:15 am:Bicycle and Walking tours of Keene showcasing bicycle-, pedestrian-, and transit-friendly street design. Led by the Bike Walk Alliance of New Hampshire and MAST.

Noon:Raffle drawing. Prizes include a Bicycle Basket from Peterboro Basket Company, a Bicycle Basket from Advanced Cyclist, a free 1-month membership at the Keene YMCA, a Monadnock Food Co-op gift card, a 1-month pass for the City Express Bus, and more! Winners will be notified via email or phone.

* Schedule subject to change

Log Your Trips and Win Prizes!

CommuteSmart New Hampshire is challenging commuters to "commute smart" - carpool, walk, telecommute, bike, or use public transportation. By logging your smart commute in the new online trip logger, you can compete with other teams and individuals statewide to win prizes and get free giveaways. Register today to get started:www.CommuteSmartNH.org.

The CommuteSmart NH Statewide Challenge begins May 16th. There will be a one-week competition during National Bike to Work Week (May 16-20, 2016) and a season long competition (May 16 – October 31, 2016) focusing on setting new records for reducing single occupancy travel and as a commitment to environmentally-friendly commuting.

Bike to Work Day Event Sponsors

MAST would like to thank the following event sponsors for their generous support:

Advanced Cyclist

Brewbakers Cafe

City Express Bus

Elm City Bagels

Hannah Grimes Center

Keene Family YMCA

Monadnock Buy Local

Monadnock Food Co-op

Prime Roast Coffee

Why Not Celebrate All Month?

Share a picture of you with your completed Bike Month Bingo Card on the League of American Bicyclists' Twitter feed (@BikeLeague) and you could win a prize!